Wisconsin State Elections, 2008 - Spring Nonpartisan Election

Spring Nonpartisan Election

Judge Michael Gableman was elected with 51% of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice Louis Butler with 49% of the vote. The heavy spending of outside interest groups in this race, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, has inspired some to call for reforms to Wisconsin election law and the selection of judges. The ascendancy of Michael Gabelman to the bench tilts the Court in a more conservative direction.

By a margin greater than 2-1, voters chose to amend the state's Constitution.

"Partial veto. Shall section 10(1)(c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating a new sentence by combining parts of two or more sentences of the enrolled bill?"

The amendment is intended to reduce the veto power of the Governor which has been historically used by governors of all parties to rework legislation.